Blog Posts - The Pink Househttps://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/Mon, 18 Mar 2019 21:29:56 +0000en-GBSite-Server v6.0.0-17332-17332 (http://www.squarespace.com)Pink House Living, the book of the blog, is out NOW!Inside The Pink HouseShoppingThe Pink HouseTue, 19 Mar 2019 06:59:00 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2019/3/16/pink-house-living-the-book-of-the-blog-is-out-now5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5c8cce586e9a7f4b3db3d47eI always dreamed of writing my own book. And so, when I started The Pink
House blog/business three years ago, a book was part of the plan. I felt
there was a gap in the market for a beautiful, colourful interiors book
that inspired its readers to create a home that made them truly happy,
while making them laugh…

I always dreamed of writing my own book. And so, when I started The Pink House blog/business three years ago, a book was part of the plan. I felt there was a gap in the market for a beautiful, colourful interiors book that inspired its readers to create a home that made them truly happy, while making them laugh…

Pink House Living (for people cheating on fashion with furniture) is this book. And thanks to my wonderful publisher, Ryland Peters & Small, it’s turned out exactly as I imagined it, right down to the pink foil-embossed fabulously tactile fabric cover.

So what’s inside? Well, as you’d expect, there’s quite a lot of pink. Because, as we all know, pink is f**king fantastic and makes the world a better place. I also love how today pink is the colour of freedom, of individuality, of change. It’s been reclaimed by the very people who once were repressed and stereotyped by it and turned into a symbol of power and non-conformity.

But Pink House Living is about a lot more than pink. It’s about the challenges of doing up a house in Edinburgh with a colour- and clutter-shy husband and two messy children. And then selling that house and doing it all over again in London.

The Pink House kitchen, as seen in Pink House Living/Photo: Susie Lowe

It’s about making your home fit your personality; it’s about what colour to paint your kids’ rooms when you’d expected them to be a different gender; it’s about decorating with colour and pattern and confidence. It’s about making your garden into a space you love when you don’t love gardening.

The book is divided into chapters by room, making it easy to navigate, especially if you’re renovating a particular space. In each chapter I look at the rooms of that type I’ve renovated, paying particular attention to things I ballsed up/am proud of, and how I managed (or failed) to win the interior war against my nemesis, the Pink House Husband (love him really).

The Pink House front door/Photo: Susie Lowe

And then, in a nod to my 15 years as a journalist, in each chapter I interview one of my interior heroes about where they found ‘Pinkspiration’ for their designs of that type of room. Interiors experts featured include ‘queen of colour’ India Mahdavi (who is responsible for THAT pink room at sketch), award-winning blogger and stylist Sarah Akwisombe, and swoonworthy boutique hotel Artist Residence’s co-founder Justin Salisbury.

There are also quizzes (which I’ve always loved both writing and answering) to help you work out which pink shade best suits your personality, and whether you are indeed cheating on fashion with furniture (guilty).

Of course, words are all very well, but it wouldn’t be a fabulous interiors coffee table book if it wasn’t also packed with beautiful pictures. My brilliant pal, top interiors photographer Susie Lowe, has done me proud with her stunning photos of my homes, and there are also gorgeous shots of the rooms designed by my interviewees to drool over (wipe it up quick, though!).

The Pink House sitting room, as seen in Pink House Living/Photo: Susie Lowe

I really believe in this book. It’s fun, fabulous, beautiful, silly, sexy, honest, practical – and pink! Buy it for yourself; buy it for a friend who’s doing up their home; buy it for your décor-mad mum on Mother’s Day. Buy it simply because it’ll look lush in your living room. And if you buy it, I’d love to hear what you think – so do write a review on Amazon, comment below or find me over on Instagram @pinkhouseliving where I’d love you to share pics and stories of your book using the hashtag #pinkhouseliving – do tag me in as well and I’ll share the best styled shots with my followers.

Finally, a HUGE thank you to all of you Pink House Guests; without your support Pink House Living would never have been written. You’re all ace. Here are some pink flowers to say thank you…

Flowers by Hayford & Rhodes in my dining room/Photo: Susie Lowe

]]>Pink House Living, the book of the blog, is out NOW!London's hottest new hotel: Vintry & MercerTravelJayne BibbySun, 17 Mar 2019 06:59:00 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2019/2/28/londons-hottest-new-hotel-vintry-and-mercer5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5c77e8bafa0d6063fc2bdc36One of London’s hottest new openings of 2019, Vintry & Mercer has made it
onto The Pink House’s (highly discerning) hotel radar. Snuggled into the
heart of the City, and surrounded by sparkling views of the Thames, this
hotel’s gorgeous interiors are inspired by the area’s luxurious history of
wine and silk merchants…

One of London’s hottest new openings of 2019, Vintry & Mercer has made it onto The Pink House’s (highly discerning) hotel radar. Snuggled into the heart of the City, and surrounded by sparkling views of the Thames, this hotel’s gorgeous interiors are inspired by the area’s luxurious history of wine and silk merchants.

Vintry & Mercer really goes for it with the excess greenery trend, bringing nature indoors in this hotel in the heart of the city. The vibrant plants and green accents bring a sense of calm and quiet to break-out areas throughout the space.

Inside the rooms and suites, neutrals are used as a base, but the real fun starts with colour pops that bring everything to life. Velvet curtains are paired with plush headboards - mustard in one room; cobalt blue the next; and further down the corridor a deep plum purple.

We all know hotel bathrooms are judged by the Instagram opportunities they offer, and at V&M they’ve nailed it. Their geometric aqua tiles sit stylishly alongside rectangular sinks with rounded edges, and shapely portrait mirrors. Normally people stash mini toiletries into their bags, but in this case we’re hoping we can fit the actual sink…

The Vintry Kitchen is an Asian tapas brasserie which continues the hotel’s love for shedloads of leaves, with a floor that ensures we continue to hanker after hexagon tiles. The skylight bordered by trailing plants lets in filtered light from above, much like a rainforest with a grey panelled ceiling. Oh yes, and the food is tasty too.

The Vintry Kitchen

The Miami vibes roof terrace

Mercer Terrace has a Santorini-meets-Miami feel about it, with (more) plant baskets hanging from the ceiling, (more) hexagon tiles running up the walls, and shades of sea green giving everything a nautical spin. The deep blue marble bar and old school wooden seats are some of our favourite touches. The bar’s best feature? The glorious view of London’s skyline, with St Paul’s Cathedral and the glass tip of The Shard all within reach of your eyes.

The cool af Do Not Disturb bar

Finally to the spot you’re most likely to find us, and the place every style-savvy Londoner is talking about: the Do Not Disturb basement bar. Here its speakeasy vibe compels you to order an Old Fashioned, even if whisky really isn’t your thing. The cerise ceiling and sofas add to the mysterious and moody feel, while mustard velvet chairs work surprisingly well with the deep pinks (mustard and cerise - who knew?!).

So there you have it, London’s latest plant paradise in the city, with skyline views - or discreet bar hideaways - depending on your mood. Book a night owl babysitter and settle in for the long haul - we’ll see you at the bar!

Just when we’ve got used to hearing that zebra-is-the-new-snake-is-the-new-leopard print, the world of animal interiors strikes again, and this time it’s a little closer to home.

Interior trend analysts (yes this an actual job, and yes it involves looking at velvet cushions for hours on end #dream) are going dotty over Dalmatian print. It’s fun, sophisticated, and most importantly, looks particularly debonair when paired with pink. Naturally.

6) The Wallpaper (and it’s pink!)

7) The Little Lampshade

We hope that’s made you doggedly determined to go out and bring some damned spots into your life. You’d be barking mad not to!

]]>101 Dalmatian interiors (alright then, 7)5 rules for a fab family skiing holidayTravelThe Pink HouseSun, 10 Mar 2019 06:59:00 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2019/3/5/5-rules-for-a-fab-family-skiing-holiday5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5c7eb10beb39310eec5d71f6Here are my 5 family holiday skiing commandments, to guarantee your time on
and off the slopes is sensational, no matter how many small people you
bring with you…

The kitchen/dining area at Chalet Mirabelle, St Gervais

Those of you who followed my recent (and first ever) family skiing holiday on Instagram will know:

a) it was my first time skiing with the kids

b) it was a huge success

c) me and my Pink House Dwellers stayed in THE most incredible place, Chalet Mirabelle in St Gervais, near Mont Blanc in the French Alps

d) I’m a lucky, lucky sonofabitch

Much of b) and d) can be explained by c) – finding the right venue for your first-ever family skiing holiday is a large part of making it work, and Chalet Mirabelle is next-level incredible, especially for families – more on this below. But there are other factors that help ensure every member of the family, whatever their ski ability, has a bloody good time. So here are my 5 family holiday skiing commandments, to (almost) guarantee your time on and off the slopes is sensational, no matter how many small people you bring with you:

[Chalet Mirabelle photos by Susie Lowe]

The Pink House Dwellers and a suspiciously large snowball

1) Put them into ski school

Ignore this if your child can ski at least as well as you, as then you can just all hit the slopes together (not too hard, mind). But if they’re a beginner/substantially worse skier than you are, then signing them up for lessons is the answer for two reasons: 1) because they’ll learn to ski properly (do NOT attempt to teach your progeny – it will end in tears all round), and 2) because you are no longer encumbered by your child’s and you’re free to slalom at speed down black runs/get stuck into the apres ski. We used the St Gervais Ski School which was excellent – we chose the Flocon class for our 6yo beginner (below), and Class 1 for our 9yo who’d had a few lessons on a dry ski slope and could already do snowplough turns. We pre-booked the kids lessons HERE.

The 6yo learning to ski at St Gervais’s excellent ski school

2) Hire a chalet nanny

I appreciate this might not be an option for everyone, as it’s yet another cost on top of what, let’s be honest, is an eye-wateringly expensive holiday. But for me it was the equivalent of buying the jump-the-queue ticket at Legoland: it means you get HOURS AND HOURS more time to enjoy the rides. Ski school tends to last only a couple of hours a day, and I don’t know about you, but that’s not enough free ski time for me. Hire a nanny (or bring a willing, non-skiing grandparent/auntie/mate) and you can take to the slopes before AND after lunch, with a fondue and a glass of gluhwein in between and a spot of table dancing to finish it all off nicely (I recommend the Folie Douce Mont Blanc for spectacular mountainous backdrop (like, duh), live singing, an electric-guitar playing rock star (below), and a smoke machine. Remember? Just like the good old pre-kids days.

The Folie Douce epic après ski enabled by the chalet nanny

3) Stay somewhere that understands kids

By which I mean, somewhere that has really thought through what you AND your children will need to stay warm, comfortable, well-fed and happy while on a skiing holiday. These are family-friendly things that Chalet Mirabelle provided that I would urge you to look for in your accommodation (or just book Chalet Mirabelle, because it doesn’t get any better):

A well-stocked playroom with TV (you won’t have the energy to entertain the kids)

A cook who understands that just because your child is on an exotic skiing holiday, it doesn’t mean he/she has suddenly developed a taste for exotic food

A cook who makes amazing cakes for when you return from skiing

A cook. Period. You don’t want to be cooking after a hard day on the piste – you want to be drinking wine/eating hot cheese/sitting in the sauna or hut tub. Well, at least I do. And tbh that goes for life, not just skiing holidays #icanbutdream

A hamper of snacks because everyone wants to eat all the time, and sometimes crisps are better than cake

Sauna and hot tub (see above). The latter keeps kids amused for ages

Cool bedrooms so they’re excited about bedtime. The bunk beds at CM are just dreamy. Literally. (see below)

Chalet Mirabelle’s magical bunk beds

Chalet Mirabelle’s playroom

This photo of Chalet Mirabelle’s dining space with beautiful views was taken in the summer - our view was rather more snowy

The sitting room is super-comfy

Chalet Mirabelle’s super-relaxing sauna

Experiencing hot tub joy

4) Pre-book everything possible

By which I mean: ski passes; ski equipment; ski lessons. This way, you will minimise the chances of the Faff Bat ruining your holiday. Not familiar with the Faff Bat? Sure you are – it’s the evil beast that swoops in to waste your time with tedious mundane tasks when you want to be doing something exciting, and is especially likely to be found in the vicinity of small children when you’re trying to leave the house with loads of stuff/perform complicated admin tasks. Pre booking ski passes, equipment and lessons is a sure-fire way to take out the Faff Bat – if the items you require are already in the car/your pocket then FB is left with nothing to do and you and your progeny are into your perfectly fitting ski boots/through the lift gates/saying hi to the ski instructor before you have time to say, ‘has everyone been to the toilet?!’

We used Mov Mountain for our ski hire and they were excellent, turning up at our chalet early on our first day of skiing as requested and fitting our family of four with boots, skis, poles and helmets with minimum fuss.

Ski passes for the St Gervais/Megeve ski area were booked here and ski lessons booked here.

The well-designed boot room at Chalet Mirabelle

5) Parents: know your limits!

A word of warning: there is no quicker way to ruin your skiing holiday, even one which follows Commandments 1-4, above, than someone getting hurt. If you, like me, haven’t skied for more than 10 years due to the creation and management of your mini-mes, you may find, as I did, that it takes a day or so to get back into the swing of things. DO NOT RUSH IT! Even if your schussing skills rivalled Graham Bell’s pre-kids, you may find a decade or so off the slopes, plus all the damage done by aforementioned progeny, means that at first you’re less Bell and more, well, bum-plant. I’m not trying to put you off – those skills are still there – but your body might just take a little while to find them. And you may not be quite as, ahem, fit as you once were. So take your time, and stop before you’re exhausted and the only way down to collect the kids is a vertical black run. The regular hot chocolate stop is your friend.

Finally: everyone in the family should wear a helmet. When I last went skiing people still wore white sunscreen painted in war paint-style stripes across their face. And not an adult helmet to be seen, except on Eddie the Eagle. But now you’re considered a fool for not wearing one (I received a number of very stern Insta DMs berating my be-hatted head), and rightly so, as it’s a not a risk worth taking. And there are some cool helmets out there so you don’t even have to sacrifice style for safety.

The Pink House Dwellers stayed as guests of Chalet Mirabelle in exchange for honest reviews on here and Instagram (see @pinkhouseliving bio for my holiday highlights on stories - saved as Skiing). As always, all opinions are my own. And as you can tell, I bloody LOVED it there. Visit Chalet Mirabelle’s website for more info, and follow them on Instagram @chaletmirabelle

]]>5 rules for a fab family skiing holidayMeet the designer: Amy ExtonHome ToursJayne BibbyTue, 05 Mar 2019 21:16:00 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2019/2/27/meet-the-designer-amy-exton5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5c76fe4e41920274b2f9f98eIf you haven’t yet heard of set/interior designer Amy Exton and her Margate
Location House, prepare to drink the Kool-Aid. Her signature
‘acid-aesthetic’ can be seen splashed across every room, transforming the
space into a Club Tropicana dream…

If you haven’t yet heard of set/interior designer Amy Exton and her Margate Location House, prepare to drink the Kool-Aid. Her signature ‘acid-aesthetic’ can be seen splashed across every room, transforming every nook into a Club Tropicana dream.

We chatted to Amy about how her set design work influences her interiors, her passion for Elvis Presley, and how to boldly go where no wallpaper has ever gone before…

Hi Amy – thanks so much for showing us your Margate Location House, it’s an incredible acid trip! Where do you start when you’re faced with a blank room?

I usually start with a single piece of furniture and then design the room around that. My 19th century wooden bed was the first thing I had for my bedroom. I wanted the walls to be quite rich, as I think dark colours make a room feel nice and cosy, but I didn’t want it to seem too dark and gothic. So, I offset the teal walls and the dark bed with really brightly painted furniture - my chartreuse wardrobe and pink chest of drawers. It made it feel like a tropical South American boudoir.

I’ve just bought one of those Mae West lip sofas for my bedroom, so I’m going to redecorate with that in mind. I’m going to stick to a red and pink colour palette, similar to my bathroom, which is still one of my fave rooms in the house.

There’s a bold, playfulness to MLH that seems to be straight out of a film, or music video. How has your set design influenced your interiors?

As I rent my house out for photoshoots, it’s like a huge set. And because it’s my own personal project, I haven’t had a brief to stick to, so I’ve been able to go mad with it. The style of the house is the kind of thing that, in an ideal world, I’d like to create for my set design commissions too, but more often than not the briefs are too restricting.

Do you mood board colour schemes? How do you envision them in the space?

I go through a lot of tester pots! But even with testers, you can’t really see what the colour will be like until it’s covering the wall, because it changes in different lights. In general, I just go for it and hope for the best!

We’ve spotted a lot of recurring imagery; classical busts, animal prints and figurines, cherubs, plants and Elvis. Do you plan these themes beforehand, or do they come organically out of your interests?

They’re all just things I’m naturally drawn to; I’m not too sure why. I actually wrote my dissertation on Elvis and became completely obsessed; my dog is called Presley! Graceland is definitely an inspiration for my interior design. The living room was originally going to be designed with Graceland’s Jungle Room in mind, but I ended up painting it coral and going a little off-piste. I’m actually redecorating that room soon and it’s going to have a heavy Graceland influence this time (unless I veer off-piste again…).

With plants, I just feel like they bring a room to life, quite literally, and tie the different elements of the room together. I do struggle to keep them alive though. I’m learning slowly.

We have to talk about the zap print wallpaper in your kitchen/diner. Did you design it? Where did you get it made? What was the inspiration? Tell us everything!

I actually painted that! It took a long time and a lot of masking tape, but it was really good fun. I love prints and want to carry on designing them, and applying them to my interior projects. With the wall in the kitchen, because I didn’t have anyone to stop me, I just went a bit mad. I’m actually going to be painting over it next week as I’m re-decorating the kitchen, but I’ll be making more prints in the future. I definitely want to print my designs on wallpapers and homewares somewhere down the line.

Any top tips for sourcing one-of-a-kind furniture and for up-cycling?

I get a lot of my furniture from around Margate, there are some great second-hand furniture places around, and I get a heads-up when they get anything in that they think is up my street. I got the giant bust and the sexy crushed velvet sofa in Margate. I also get a lot of stuff on eBay and other online marketplaces. This year I’m going to start hitting up antique markets and auctions. I used to love a car-boot sale but I feel like they’re not as good as they used to be.

I originally got into interiors by up-cycling furniture, and that’s something I’m going to start up again now that the house is finished. I’m a bit obsessed with spray painting things in block colours: cherubs lamps, busts etc. I currently have a few items from around the house up for sale on my website, but it’s something I’m going to start working on more in the near future.

What would you say to people who want to use colour in their home, but don’t know where to start?

I’d say just go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? You’ll just have to paint over it if you’re not happy with it. Or alternatively, keep the walls neutral and add colour with furniture, or the way you dress your rooms. As much as I love coloured walls in my own interiors, I do also love plain white walls when they’re contrasted with bright splashes of colour, like a bright sofa.

Who do you look to for interiors inspiration?

I find my inspiration all over the place and I’m inspired by all sorts of different design movements. The Memphis Milano movement is a personal fave, but I also had a bit of an obsession with William Morris when I was younger. That influence isn’t so obvious, but I feel like it will come out more in the future. I also pick up inspiration from set design in TV and film. I first got into interior design as a kid when I watched Changing Rooms religiously. That drummed up some pretty ridiculous design ideas in my mind at the time, which luckily I wasn’t allowed to apply to my bedroom, but I’d say that design ethos for just going crazy had a big influence on me. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s red and zebra print room, which the nation hated, is imprinted on my mind. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t influenced by that.

You host artist residencies at MLH – any artists we should be keeping an eye out for?

So far we’ve hosted residencies with Lizzie King and Aoife Dunne. They came to the house for a week and make a body of work inspired by the house and Margate in general. I’ve got a couple of artists lined up for the next residencies, but nothing concrete yet. Keep your eyes peeled in the summer!

Keep up to date with Amy’s renovations by following Amy and her Margate Location House on Instagram. You can also rent the kaleidoscopic Margate Location House (and Presley the dog!) for shoots, and buy Amy’s up-cycled furniture on her website. Or, for the full experience, rent MLH on Airbnb.

]]>Meet the designer: Amy ExtonWelcome to The Pink House 3.0Inside The Pink HouseThe Pink HouseFri, 01 Mar 2019 11:45:00 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2019/2/28/welcome-to-the-pink-house-305649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5c77fce09b747a716141ee28Today marks EXACTLY 3 YEARS since I launched The Pink House
blog/brand/business! So it feels like the perfect day to re-start this
blog, and the newsletter, which has lain dormant for far longer than I
intended…

Hello! Today marks EXACTLY 3 YEARS since I launched The Pink House blog/brand/business! So it feels like the perfect day to re-start this blog, and the newsletter, which has lain dormant for far longer than I intended. From now on, if you subscribe, which you can do HERE, you’ll receive a monthly ‘Editor’s Letter’ a bit like this one, with updates on what’s been going down chez Pink House (I won’t be posting them on the blog after today - this is just to give you a taster). You’ll also receive alerts when a new blog post is published, which will be much more frequently than of late - a veritable volcano of fabulous interiors inspo awaits!

The past few months much of my time has been taken up by my new book-of-the-blog, Pink House Living, which launches on Tuesday 19 March (less than 3 weeks! eek!), published by Ryland Peters & Small. If you like the sound of a beautiful, practical guide to decorating with pink and other happy-making hues, which doesn’t take itself too seriously, then click HEREto pre-order from Amazon. I’m chuffed to bits with it, and hope you love it too.

Writing a book was high on this book-obsessed pink lover’s ‘career goals bucket list’, and I feel bloody lucky to have been given the opportunity to take The Pink House into print. However, it’s also meant I’ve had much less time to devote to the blog. It’s been frustrating not being able to regularly publish loads of lovely interiors-related features to inspire/amuse/entertain you. And yes, I’m old school – I still call them features instead of blog posts; that’s what 15 years in the print magazine world does to you!

Speaking of magazines, that’s how I always envisaged The Pink House ‘blog’ – as a fun, fabulous interiors mag, mainly published online. Since it launched, I’ve been the editor, writer, researcher, picture editor, sub editor, advertising manager, editorial assistant and publisher (who says bloggers don’t earn their crust). But the time has come to grow The Pink House team; with many new projects on the horizon I simply can’t keep doing everything myself. So I scoured the UK and I’ve found. I’m delighted to introduce new team members Jenny, Jayne and Rachel – three fantastic content creators who just ‘get’ what The Pink House is all about. Click HERE to find out a bit more about them.

Now I have an amazing team The Pink House features/blog posts will be much more frequent. Every Tuesday and Sunday a fresh post will be published on pinkhouse.co.uk, and, as I mentioned above, on the first Friday of every month I’ll send out an Editor’s Letter a bit like this one, with Pink House news and updates. I’ll continue to post regularly on Instagram @pinkhouseliving and you’ll also start to see more interior inspo on The Pink House’s Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterestchannels. Here’s to The Pink House 3.0 – I’m so glad you’re along for the ride!

Emily x

]]>Welcome to The Pink House 3.0How to design a dining roomExpert AdviceDining RoomsThe Pink HouseFri, 16 Nov 2018 07:00:00 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/11/12/how-to-design-a-dining-room5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5be98f7e2b6a281d5a02762bWhen OKA asked me to design a room - any room - using their products, my
first thought was, “where is the bar cart going to go?”. I bloody love a
bar cart, me…

The dining room I designed for OKA/Photo: Nick Pope

Photos: Nick Pope

Where do you start when it comes to designing a room?

When OKA asked me to design a room - any room - using their products, my first thought was, “where is the bar cart going to go?”. I bloody love a bar cart, me. Not only for the obvious reason that it contains booze and booze is nice, but also because a beautiful bar cart makes me go weak at the knees before I’ve had a single sip. And, as you can see below, OKA’s Lennox drinks trolley is seriously sexy.

Martini, anyone?/Photo: Nick Pope

Once I’d decided on a dining room setting, I settled on my colour scheme (pink, dark grey and green) and design theme for the space. I chose to combine the delicate pale pink ‘Cuisse de Nymphe Emue’ by Edward Bulmer Natural Paint with an edgier vibe for a room that would feel at home in an urban setting, overlooking a big city.

I’m often asked to sum up The Pink House’s aesthetic, and an essential part of it is the balance between prettiness and punkiness. Luckily, OKA has loads of beautiful items that tick either the pretty or the punk-y boxes (and a fair few that work for both - hello, beautiful faux shagreen table lamps) so my job was made that much easier. Breaking up the blush pink walls with a slash of graphite grey up the chimney breast and on and in-between the windows gave the room an edgy glamour when paired with OKA’s gorgeously luxe decor.

The OKA skull print add a rock n roll vibe while tying in with the nature theme/Photo: Nick Pope

I also knew I wanted to incorporate some plants. I’m a city chick with a country girl frolicking not far beneath the surface, so I always try to bring nature into my room designs. OKA made it easy for me again with a wide selection of nature-inspired prints, tableware and accessories in vibrant, leafy greens. Plus, their faux flower selection - those ranunculus and roses aren’t real! - is amazing.

Table set for a sumptuous supper/Photo: Nick Pope

When I’m trying to get my head around how a scheme will look, I find it really useful to see the elements I’m planning on using side-by-side, to check if they work together. I love Canva.com for this - it’s such an easy way to create casual mood boards that help you visualise the finished room. Here are the mood boards I made as part of the planning process for this room, by combining screen grabs of the actual OKA items I planned to use, with room shots pulled off Pinterest. You can see some elements changed slightly in the finished design, but hopefully you’ll also see how they gave me a sense of how the space was going to work.

I love my finished room. It’s fun yet glamorous, edgy yet welcoming. Now all we need are a couple of crates of pink champagne and the dinner party can begin. Who’s coming?!

Cheers Tom Hardy - so glad you could make it!/Photo: Nick Pope

This post was sponsored by OKA, but as always, all thoughts, opinions and desires to have Tom Hardy as a fantasy dinner party guest are entirely my own.

]]>How to design a dining roomPink House Helps...in the bathroomExpert AdviceBathroomsThe Pink HouseWed, 14 Nov 2018 07:00:00 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/11/12/pink-house-helps-in-the-bathroom5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5be97f194ae23793ccb0085aThis is the first in my Pink House Helps series, and I’ve decided to start
with some popular questions on bathrooms. Hopefully this post will help
make your littlest room into the loveliest room in your home.

My Edinburgh bathroom/Photo: Susie Lowe

This is the first in my Pink House Helps series, and I’ve decided to start with some popular questions on bathrooms. The bathroom is a bugger – it’s usually the smallest room in the house, but often ends up costing more to renovate than any other space. Plus loos/cloakrooms/toilets/whateveryoucallthems are full of complexities to do with finishes, specs, safety stuff, etc. And all this just so we have somewhere nice to relieve ourselves/remove the dirt. Hopefully this post will help make your littlest room into the loveliest room in your home.

Q: Got any tips for nice brass/gold bathroom taps?

A: When I renovated my Edinburgh bathroom, I asked the builders for gold taps, assuming they would realise I meant brass. First tip: if you want brass taps, ASK for brass taps: after my vague request my builders presented me with solid 24 carat options that would have cost more than the actual house (face palm emoji). But as you’re probably all too aware, it’s not even as simple as asking for ‘brass’, as there are many different brass finishes (not to mention the confusion around ‘brassware’ as the collective term for ‘metal stuff that has water coming out of it in the bathroom’).

For me, the beauty of brass is in the way it ages – I love the patina (the natural tarnish that forms on the surface of real brass) and the way brass taps quickly look as if they have been part of your house for many years. If you prefer your brass taps to stay shiny you have to polish them fairly regularly. I wouldn’t recommend going for lacquered brass even if you do like them shiny, as the lacquer will eventually break down and your taps won’t look great.

Whether you plan to polish them or not, I’d advise purchasing ‘polished brass’ taps. These are pure, ‘living’ brass taps which you can choose either to leave to patinate naturally, or polish whenever you feel they need a pick-me-up. I’d also suggest ensuring all brass items you buy for your bathroom are in the same finish. I went for a lacquered brass loo roll holder in my last bathroom and while it matched the gorgeous Barber Wilsons taps and shower head initially, after a month or so it was still blindingly shiny whereas the taps had aged to a duller shine. I’d definitely recommend Barber Wilsons for beautiful brass taps, and I’m a big fan of Perrin & Rowe too – my polished brass kitchen mixer tap is from there. I’m a bit in love with the range at Bert & May as well – they have a ‘matt black’ finish which is a sexy alternative to brass if you like an edgier vibe.

Q: I want to wallpaper the bathroom, but I’ve heard the humidity means it will just get ruined and peel off. What do you think about wallpaper and bathrooms?

This wallpapered bathroom was designed by my talented interior designer cousin, Eleanor Horwell

A: I think wallpaper and bathrooms (and kitchens for that matter) are made for each other as the wallpaper pattern softens shiny surfaces and makes the room feel more ‘human’. As long as your bathroom has half-decent ventilation (too much steam will, eventually, cause the paper to lift and bubble) and you’re not wallpapering an area likely to get more than the occasional splash you should be absolutely fine. I’d also advise going for the best quality wallcovering you can afford, and having a trusted decorator hang it, to ensure it’s properly adhered to the wall.

Q: I’ve seen all these gorgeous glass pendant lights I love on Pinterest, but my builder says you can’t use anything like that in the UK because of safety ratings. Is this true or is he just trying to avoid extra work?

A: OH GOD I TOTALLY FEEL YOU. When I planned my last bathroom I had a Pinterest board filled with pretty little pendant lights dangling over pretty large American sinks (see above). Turns out our friends across the pond (hey guys!) aren’t as bothered about electrocuting themselves as we are (or their electricity is less strong, or something) so they can just get on and illuminate their bathroom with attractive light fittings without worrying about pesky safety ratings. It’s a bit more complicated in the UK. Depending on how far away the lighting is from the water source, it has to conform to certain safety ratings. See this link here for a clear description.

So essentially if you want to install lighting within these watery zones, the lights have to have safety ratings of either IP67 (very soggy), IP65 (a bit wet), or IP44 (might get splashed). Unfortunately, many of the nicest-looking lights are not safety rated, and the ones that are tend to be expensive. With that in mind, I’d recommend checking out the ranges at Original BTC (I’m especially keen on these IP44-rated pillar lights), Jim Lawrence and Balineum. The latter is where the handmade brass over-sink lamp in my Edinburgh bathroom (top pic) came from. Not cheap but soooo classy; tacky-looking lighting can ruin a whole room so I’d definitely advise the investment.

]]>Pink House Helps...in the bathroomStyling an adults-only Halloween party with Sainsbury’s HomeInside The Pink HouseLiving RoomsThe Pink HouseThu, 18 Oct 2018 12:45:53 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/10/12/styling-an-adults-only-halloween-party-with-sainsburys-home5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5bc0ac41f4e1fc79ce8b90ddThis year I’m determined to reclaim Halloween; why should the kids have all
the fun? So I’ve teamed up with Sainsbury’s Home and used their excellent
Halloween décor range to help me style up a scary drinks party at The Pink
House, with absolutely NO kids allowed…

I admit it: since having children I haven’t been a huge fan of Halloween. Why? Let me present to you some of my with-kids Halloween moments from the past 8 years:

Creating the world’s most reluctant pumpkin – my baby screamed from the second I dressed him in his ‘cute’ pumpkin outfit to the moment I removed him from the party

Coercing a trick-or-treating four-year-old to tell a joke in a stranger’s front room, only for him to burst into tears and scream, ‘I hate you all!’

Following his crying/shade-throwing, my offspring grabs handfuls of chocolate skulls before legging it at a speed impossible to match while dressed as an unraveling mummy

Bobbing for apples results in near-drowning

Man dressed as a ghost jumping out from behind a hedge is so scary I have to spend the rest of Halloween singing Christmas songs to calm my toddler down

The annual horror show resulting from two kids having eaten their body weight in sugar in approximately 10 minutes

How I sometimes feel about my kids on Halloween

This year, however, I’m determined to reclaim Halloween: why should the kids have all the fun? So instead of worrying about what outfits to dress them in, working out which houses are most likely to dole out spider-shaped Haribo, or wondering which apple variety is easiest to pick up with your teeth, I’ve teamed up with Sainsbury’s Home and used their excellent Halloween décor range to help me style up a scary drinks party at The Pink House, with absolutely NO kids allowed.

Creepify your cushions – and petrify your prints; twist the words you see around you. My ‘Ain’t nobody got time for BAT’ cushion and ‘I think you are HORRIBLE’ perverted print help set the scary scene with just a black marker pen and a bit of tape

Pimp those pumpkins – click HERE for more info on how the pumpkins you see here in The Pink House were created, and HERE for a pumpkin carving kit. Big thanks to my crafty friend Martha Roberts for all her help

Add after-dark animals – Sainsbury’s Home has a brilliant selection of creepy creatures. This large spider was too much for an arachnophobe like me, but I love the naughty tinsel cat (which paid no heed to my ‘No cats…’ cushion), and these small and large ravens. And don’t forget a glittery ghost – every good Halloween home should have one.

So there you have it – a haunted house perfect for a kid-free Halloween party!

This post was sponsored by Sainsbury’s Home - but as always, all opinions, thoughts, ideas and urges to drink blood orange martinis from glasses saying ‘I’m here for the BOOs’ are entirely my own.

]]>Styling an adults-only Halloween party with Sainsbury’s HomeThe Pink House X hushPressExpert AdviceThe Pink HouseWed, 17 Oct 2018 12:47:23 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/10/17/the-pink-house-x-hush5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5bc72d200852299b5cd6751fMy wardrobe is full of gorgeous Hush clothes, so when they asked if I would
write a piece for the Hush magazine and blog about bringing the winter
floral trend into your home I was delighted…

One of the things I love most about my job is working with wonderful brands.

My wardrobe is full of gorgeous Hush clothes, so when they asked if I would write a piece for the Hush magazine and blog about bringing the winter floral trend into your home I was delighted. See above or click HERE to read the piece, which features lots more of my fave brands 💖.

I might be cheating on fashion with furniture much of the time, but I do love it when the two come together.

]]>The Pink House X hushThe dos and don'ts of Paris with kidsTravelArtThe Pink HouseFri, 12 Oct 2018 12:37:12 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/10/11/the-dos-and-donts-of-paris-with-kids5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5bbf65217817f72a18dd6d81I don’t speak French, but 48 hours in Paris with an eight-year-old has
qualified me to share my dos and don’ts of a (mainly) successful avec-kid
trip to this sexy city…

“If Mummy had only remembered to pre-book tickets I’d be at the top right now”

I have a confession to make: I can’t speak French. Not a single word, unless you count ‘croissant’, ‘bonjour’ and ‘Cartier’. Add in the fact that I would never describe myself as ‘chic’, ‘elegant’ or having a certain ‘juh-nuh say kwa’, and you’ll start to understand why I’ve not spent much time in Paris. Frankly, I’ve never relished the prospect of making a massive philistine twat of myself asking for, ‘una crossant por favour’ while everyone else swanned around by the Seine in Breton stripes and tailored tweed Chanel jackets, being firm-yet-permissive with their charming be-Petitbateaued children.

So how did I find myself in Paris a couple of weekends ago with only my eight-year-old son Oscar for company?

I guess I was having a bit of a carpe diem (that’s not French is it?) awakening, having spent an evening in the company of my inspirational friend Deborah James (buy her book ‘Fuck You Cancer’ HERE and follow her on Instagram @bowelbabe) who’s all about getting out and living the life you want to live RIGHT NOW.

Add this ‘live for the moment’ attitude to the fact that Oscar’s new class is called ‘Monet’, and I decided it would be highly education for him to see the artist’s work for himself, the perfect excuse for a bit of mum-and-son quality time and a chance for me to lay eyes on my beloved Degas ballet paintings again. Half an hour later I’d booked the Eurostar tickets and The Hoxton hotel, and negotiated a Friday lunchtime departure with Oscar’s school.

I still don’t speak any French, but 48 hours in Paris with an eight-year-old has qualified me to share my dos and don’ts of a (mainly) successful avec-kid trip to this sexy city…

The stunning staircase at The Hoxton Paris

DO stay at The Hoxton

Everything about The Hoxton was a huge hit with Oscar – and with me. Things we loved about the place include: the fact that you can walk there in 20 minutes from the Gare du Nord (that’s the station the Eurostar arrives into FYI); the super-friendly staff (who were incredibly helpful when my purse got stolen – see below); the excellent burgers; the delicious pancakes; the amazing hot chocolate (do you sense a small-boy theme here?); the quaffable champagne (that was me); the beautiful rooms; the gorgeous old building…I could go on for ages. Tip: if you’re light sleepers ask for a quiet room that doesn’t overlook the courtyard as it can get noisy at night.

DON’T take a walk along the Seine

The helpful receptionist at The Hoxton suggested we got the Metro to Alma-Marceau then walked along the Seine to the Musee D’Orsay. This would have been great if it had just been me, or if I’d been with another grown-up keen to see the sights and walk for about 25 minutes. Oscar was largely unimpressed by the former and completely fed up by the latter (which became closer to 40 mins due to feet-dragging). I had to bribe him with ice cream to keep him moving.

DO visit the Musee d’Orsay

Chances are your progeny will be wary of being dragged round a boooring art gallery, but this is as much about the building – a beautiful former train station of St Pancras proportions - as it is about the art. Head to the very top of the gallery and take in the breathtaking views both inside and outside on the roof terrace. Marvel at the giant clock, and casually throw in a whistle-stop tour of some of the most famous Impressionist paintings known to man. Let’s gloss over the fact that the biggest, er, impression was made by the Lego Eiffel tower he pestered me to purchase in the gallery shop. I really should have pre-booked those tower tickets…

DON’T just turn up to the Eiffel Tower

Instead you should pre-book online. And do it well in advance. I tried to book just a couple of days before our trip and they were sold out all weekend for trips to the top platform (though a few slots to the lower level remained). Not being a fan of what I’d been informed were lengthy queues if buying a ticket on the day, we only got an Eiffel from afar this time. Next time we’ll be better organized.

DO buy a carnet of Metro tickets

Your kid gets a discount on the Metro if you buy a carnet (set of 10 tickets) for them, but not if you just buy them individually. And if your mini-me is less than enthusiastic about trekking around town, these will get used up in no time.

DON’T put your purse in your rucksac

I did this after buying an ice cream in Montmartre, up near the Sacre Coeur cathedral with its breathtaking views of the city (defo worth a visit). The thieves must have been watching as I stupidly put my brand new Miu Miu purse (SOB!!!) containing more than 300 Euros (ARGH!!!) in the easily-unzippable outside back pocket of my rucksac. Five minutes later, after we’d pushed through the scrum of people in the Place du Tertre, I fumbled for my purse to pay for a ride on the little wheeled train tour (wish we could have done this – it looked fun) and discovered it was gone. KEEP YOUR VALUABLES CLOSE – I’ve since been warned that Paris is notorious for pick pockets. Thank goodness for The Hoxton, whose lovely staff calmed me down and sorted us out with room service when a lack of credit card or cash meant we could no longer go for dinner at Chez Janou…

Montmartre

The post-purse-stealing note The Hoxton sent with our room service. So lovely

DO go for dinner at Chez Janou

Clearly, due to the purse debacle, I didn’t get the chance, but Chez Janou was recommended to me by some of the coolest and most kid-savvy people I know, so I feel confident recommending it to you. Next time I go to Paris I’m heading straight there, kids or no kids.

DON’T eat at La Maison Rose

Due to an ongoing #pinkpilgrimage (my ever-growing list of pink-related places around the world I absolutely MUST visit), La Maison Rose, a pretty pink Instagram sensation of a restaurant, was a no-brainer of an itinerary item. But while the eight-year-old tolerated taking pictures of his embarrassing mum posing like an eejit outside the establishment, his reward - a chance to have lunch inside - was a disaster. Let’s just say that a place that refuses to serve ketchup on the grounds that it doesn’t fit with its all-natural, non-processed food policy was never going to be a hit with my offspring. Finally I promised him another ice cream and gave him some Tic-Tacs and my phone to play with so I could enjoy my (very tasty) duck salad in peace.

With a huge thanks to The Hoxton Paris for being amazing in every way and having us to stay in exchange for blog and Instagram coverage. For more on The Hoxton Paris and to book a room, click here

]]>The dos and don'ts of Paris with kidsWhy I’m not qualified to write about cancer (but I’m going to do it anyway)OpinionThe Pink HouseTue, 02 Oct 2018 17:49:00 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/10/2/why-im-not-qualified-to-write-about-cancer-but-im-going-to-do-it-anyway5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5bb35167e5e5f09b62c91c7eUntil I met Deborah James AKA @Bowelbabe, Cancer was pretty much pink
ribbons and park runs. Now, thanks to my inspirational friend, I’m starting
to learn a little about what it’s like to be on the other side of Cancer.

F*** You Cancer, a brilliant new book by Deborah James; click HERE to buy

I’m so fucking lucky.

I don’t know what it’s like to be hooked up to a chemo machine every week for months; to be violently ill as a result; to be up all night, wired on steroids. I don’t know what it’s like to have bits of my bowel cut out to save my life; to have tumours removed from my lungs; to have radioactivity knifed in to my liver. I don’t know what it’s like to be told I have bowel cancer; that it has spread; that I might not live to see my kids grow up.

But then about a year ago I met someone who has experienced all of these things: Deborah James, AKA @bowelbabe.

I didn’t know Deborah was Bowelbabe when I first met her. I didn’t know she had cancer at all. All I saw that night in a Shoreditch basement club (where loads of women had gathered to hear a live podcast recording about sex), was a smart, funny, gorgeous girl who radiated life. Her energy and joie de vivre were infectious. And I recognised in her a kindred spirit; a shared state of mind; an excellent drinking partner (we’d both come alone). We even discovered a mutual love of circus skills and a childhood spent doing gymnastics.

Then she told me she had Cancer. I was confused. Surely, given her radiant appearance, upbeat personality and all that glossy, natural hair, she couldn’t be seriously ill? Surely, given how much we had in common, there couldn’t be something so huge separating us? Surely, at the very worst she must have ‘one of those cancers’ that was swiftly dealt with then forgotten about, right?

No, Deborah explained matter-of-factly, she had stage 4 bowel cancer, and was undergoing her umpteenth cycle of chemo. How much longer would her treatment last, I asked. I’ll be on chemo for the rest of my life, said Deborah.

If I’m honest, until I met Debs, Cancer was pretty much pink ribbons and park runs. Now, thanks to my inspirational friend, I’m starting to learn a little about what it’s like to be on the other side of Cancer. The dark side.

Deborah told me her cancer wasn’t pink at all. She had the brown cancer, she said, with a dry laugh. The unsexy one, she called it. One day she even wore a poo emoji costume to demonstrate that fact. Because she’s awesome.

These were my first lessons about the reality of cancer, vs its myths and clichés. And since I became friends with Deborah (how very proud I am to call this incredible woman my friend), I’ve learned a whole lot more about this shitty disease, both from her, and a number of other wonderful people.

You Me and the Big C podcast with (L to R) Rachael Bland, Lauren Mahon and Deborah James

Through Deborah I was digitally introduced to amazing human Rachael Bland, the broadcasting brains behind the award-winning, chart-topping Cancer podcast You, Me and the Big C, which she recorded together with Deborah and Lauren Mahon (@girlstolelondon). Rachael died of breast cancer last month aged 40 and Deborah and Lauren are doing her proud by continuing to talk openly and honestly about the reality of this shitty disease in a way that genuinely helps people who have Cancer, and their friends and family.

Debs, Rachael and Lauren have also challenged the concept that anyone can, as an individual, battle with Cancer. Whether or not you succumb to Cancer, Deborah has explained to me, is out of the Cancer-haver’s hands. If you die of Cancer, you haven’t ‘lost a battle’. It’s the luck of the draw, as is whether or not you get the crappy thing in the first place.

However, Deborah points out, and as seen in the excellent Stand Up To Cancer ad, which stars Debs alongside Liam Neeson, we can all ‘fight’ Cancer together by raising money, raising awareness, raising the roof when it comes to shouting ‘Fuck You Cancer’ – which also happens to be the name of Deborah’s brilliant new book, which comes out on 4 October – click HERE to order it on Amazon.

Thanks to Deborah I’ve also discovered Lauren Mahon’s Cancer community GIRL vs CANCER , described as ‘a place for fierce women affected by the cretin that is cancer to feel empowered to deal with the sh*t show that a cancer diagnosis means’, which she set up while on chemo. Her beautifully-written blog gave me a beautifully written insight into the ugly realities of Cancer I’d never had before.

Through GIRL vs CANCER Lauren confronts Cancer head on in a gritty, gutsy way, and sells a range of t-shirts, bags and jumpers with kick-ass slogans that raise funds and awareness. These include the Tit-Tees, tongue-in-cheek t-shirts reminding women to check their boobs regularly, which Lauren has just launched to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can (and should!) buy them HERE.

Last weekend I took part in a photoshoot to mark the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, organised by the lovely Laura Rutherford AKA @that_mummy_smile . There were around 40 of us posing in pink bras outside a pink house on Portobello Road to support the work of Breast Cancer Care. I chose to get involved in this social media-specific campaign because I thought supporting a charity that used pink as part of its publicity campaign would resonate with my pink-loving followers. And by the comments on my post and in my DMs, I’d say it has.

Having learned more about the other side of Cancer from Deborah and her inspirational friends I can see why, for some people, pink doesn’t feel like a colour they associate with Cancer. And I truly hope that our pink antics haven’t offended. Hell; if I found myself on the dark side of Cancer I might end up hating pink myself (shock horror!). Or perhaps I’d love it even more. I can only hope I never find out.

I still don’t feel qualified to write about Cancer, but what I DO know is that everyone who is doing their bit to tell Cancer to fuck right off is a bloody legend, whatever colour, slogan or medium they use to get the message across. Here’s to humanity, and kicking Cancer’s ass.

As the Stand Up To Cancer ad informs Cancer: ‘One person is no army, but when we join together, you don’t stand a chance’.

Deborah James’ book Fuck You Cancer is published by Penguin Books and launches on 4 October. Click HERE to order your copy.

]]>Why I’m not qualified to write about cancer (but I’m going to do it anyway)The Pink House family room reveal!Inside The Pink HouseShoppingLiving RoomsThe Pink HouseWed, 26 Sep 2018 16:28:17 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/9/21/the-pink-house-family-room-reveal5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5ba4afee0d9297e050b2654cIn the same way that most families have an awkward uncle, stubborn aunt or
uncooperative cousin, most homes have a room that’s just plain difficult to
decorate. In The Pink House’s case, this room is the Family Room…

The Pink House’s peachy family room, decked out in fabulous Shrimps for Habitat decor

(All photos: Painthouse)

In the same way that most families have an awkward uncle, stubborn aunt or uncooperative cousin, most homes have a room that’s just plain difficult to decorate. In The Pink House’s case, this room is the Family Room.

To understand its awkwardness, you need a bit of background on my house’s construction. When we bought this Edwardian semi last summer, the previous owners had added an extension at the back, which contains our kitchen and dining area. However, the existing kitchen was left untouched in the centre of the house. We use this old kitchen as a utility room/place to store random crap so it is semi-useful, but because it’s in the middle of the house it means the route from our front door to the bright, south-facing extension which is the heart of our home, is through what we call the Family Room. Here’s a floorplan to demonstrate.

As you can see, the Family Room’s location means it has the following less-than-ideal characteristics:

it’s a thoroughfare

it has no windows

it’s a fairly awkward shape

I’m hoping next year we’ll get started on some serious structural changes to our house, including the reworking of the Family Room so it makes better use of space and light and ceases to be the corridor from front door to kitchen. In the mean time, though, I’ve been trying to make this rather odd room look as good and work as well as possible.

And I have to say I’m pretty pleased with its most recent incarnation. Why? Partly because we’ve made best use of the space to create a cosy room that allows the Pink House Dwellers to chill out (spill their drink)/play games (top trumps AGAIN)/watch telly (watch grown men in America play computer games on YouTube) while still feeling in touch with what’s going on in the kitchen.

And partly because I’ve gone BOLD in this room, thanks to some stunning pieces from the new Shrimps for Habitat range (which is the coolest, most fashwan thing to happen to home décor since, well, their collab with Henry Holland!). Who needs to cheat on fashion with furniture when we can have BOTH?!

I’ve also added some beautiful bits from Habitat’s current collection for extra wow-factor, and all of this gorgeousness looks lush against my newly painted peachy-pink Painthouse walls (the colour’s called ‘Ida’). Scroll down for pics and credits/click-through links at the end…

My 6 favourite things about the family room:

The orientation of the corner sofa. It’s set up so you get a view directly out to the garden and can catch a glimpse of anyone (PHH) cooking (making soup) in the kitchen

That Shrimps for Habitat rug. It’s completely fabulous - like strokeable art for your floor. I especially love the use of gold thread and the blue sheep. And it’s 100% wool so super luxe and cosy underfoot, and perfect for sitting on for the 1045th game of football top trumps. Every family room floor should have one

Pink and red. I’m often wary of putting these colours together but the Shrimps for Habitat collection proves how fabulous it can be, especially with…

Pops of blue. Again, this was inspired by the Shrimps pieces, and I decided to run with it by adding a blue-and-green Habitat vase and some blue delphiniums so the colour carried into all corners of the room

The peachy-pink walls. And how they pick up on similar colours in my dining room wallpaper and kitchen breakfast bar tiles, tying the whole open-plan space together

Plants. They pull the outside right into the darkest corner and bring it to life. These are all real plants but faux ones would work well too. And don’t forget the plants in the pictures - they count as well

If you’ve got a difficult room you’d like help with decorating, please tell me your issues in the comments below and I’ll give you my thoughts on how to whip it into shape.

This post was sponsored by Habitat, but - as always - all thoughts, opinions and obsession with shiny studded shoes are entirely my own. I only work with brands I genuinely love and think you, my readers, will love too.

]]>The Pink House family room reveal!The new paint company rewriting the colour rulesShoppingOpinionKitchensInside The Pink HouseThe Pink HouseTue, 18 Sep 2018 20:18:02 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/9/18/the-new-paint-brand-rewriting-the-colour-rules5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5ba0dcf04ae2370d2e2348a5A couple of months ago I got a mysterious email about a paint brand called
Painthouse - a brand so new their website didn’t even exist yet. They sent
me the 72-colour paint chart…and I was sold straightaway. These are some
seriously mood-lifting colours…

When Painthouse met The Pink House

The Pink House Husband proposed to me while we lay semi-comatose on a bed at The Grove five-star hotel in Hertfordshire in 2004.

He’d intended to propose earlier while we were having dinner, but had lost the nerve, and as a result we had now eaten our body weight in carbs and lard, drunk all the red wine and passed out on our pit.

Honestly? Yes, I’d rather have said ‘I do’ while only semi-tipsy, upright, and surrounded by people who would clap politely when I signed up for life a deux. Instead I was half-conscious and beached on a bed, slurring, ‘whaddidjussay?’.

But I couldn’t fault my future husband’s venue choice: he’d picked The Grove as a proposal venue because he knew I was obsessed with the interiors – specifically, the colours of the interiors. There was the sparkly blue sitting room, with blue walls, blue sofas and blue vases. Even the flowers were blue. And then the library, with its curved tangerine velvet sofas and mirrored display shelves stacked with bright-spined books .

But perhaps my favourite interior design feature was the projector in the hallway, which showed a video of The Grove’s gardens, flowerbeds ablaze with colour, birds a-tweeting. Who should be walking through the middle of this many-hued garden, but a butt-naked gardener, who looks back over his shoulder and, with a big grin, beckons you to follow him and his butt into nature’s rainbow. Bloody brilliant.

Back then, I especially loved hotels (and bars and restaurants) like The Grove for their cheeky, clever, bold colour choices, because I wasn’t brave enough to splash the paint (or project the naked men) in my own home. So every other night I’d be out at some colour hotspot or other, stroking the walls, admiring the seating and drinking lurid cocktails.

And then I had a baby.

It might have only weighed six pounds, but this baby took a heavy toll on my social life. Whereas Before Baby I went ‘out’ out 4 times a week, I was now lucky if I managed it every 4 months. And when I DID go out, it was to whichever eatery was most convenient for legging it home when the babysitter called to say my precious progeny had screamed solidly for the past 2 hours.

At home, colour was in short supply and it bothered me. Then, on one particularly dark-beige day, when The Grove and its sparkly blue walls seemed a million miles away, I had a Mohammed/mountain revelation: if I couldn’t go to the colour, why couldn’t the colour come to me? Which is when my attitude to home décor changed, my mood lifted and the idea for The Pink House was born.

Since then, I’ve become a colour magpie, always on the hunt for hues that make my heart sing.

A stool I painted in Painthouse’s ‘Ida’

Then, a couple of months ago I got a mysterious email about a paint brand so new their website didn’t even exist yet. The brand was called Painthouse and the people behind it seemed to know an awful lot about me and my love of colour. Did I want to find out more? You betcha. So they sent me the 72-colour paint chart – and I was sold straightaway. These are some seriously mood-lifting colours!

But, I discovered, there was so much more to this innovative brand than gorgeous colours, which I why I agreed to work with them to help launch Painthouse. I’ve even experienced using the paint first hand, when I painted two wooden stools as part of the photoshoot we did at my house.

The 72 paint chart colours and products are perfection, and I love how the paints are named after a mix of Norwegian and English children’s names – e.g. Sienna, Thor, Leif, Penelope – to reference the brand’s Scandi roots

The 6 ‘Style Capsules’ colour categories (Brights, Luxe, Fresh, Pastels, Naturals and Neutrals) are a genius way of ensuring all your colours work together even if, like me, you like to use very different hues in different rooms

The Peel & Stick colour sample book means no faffing around holding tiny squares of paint to a wall

One Painthouse paint works for all surfaces – including walls, ceilings, skirting and wooden furniture - no need to buy different finishes for different jobs with the confusion and wastage that can involve

The paints are non-toxic – there is literally no smell at all when you open the lid – and fire retardant are available too. Which means peace of mind when it comes to painting kids’ rooms in particular

Having used the paint myself I can report the colour is rich and true, and the paint glides on beautifully, giving colour coverage in just one coat

Who needs to splash the cash on posh hotels when you can splash these glorious colours about in your own home? Plus, if you stay home the wine’s a LOT cheaper, although if you’re looking for an audience for your proposal, might I suggest you head to the nearest pub.

This post was sponsored by Painthouse, but as always, all thoughts, ideas and unhealthy interest in naked gardeners are entirely my own. For more about Painthouse, including the option to order a free colour book, click HERE﻿

]]>The new paint company rewriting the colour rulesWhy you need an ottoman in your lifeInside The Pink HouseShoppingExpert AdviceBedroomsThe Pink HouseWed, 12 Sep 2018 15:56:12 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/6/29/why-you-need-an-ottoman-in-your-life5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5b3634ae88251b09380a4f68Wherever we live, we all wish we had more space. Especially if - like me -
you live in London, where property costs an average of £7000 per square
metre. Eek! And so we need to be making the most of every inch.

Sexy AND practical - what more could you want from a (otto)man?/Photo: Susie Lowe

Wherever we live, we all wish we had more space. Especially if - like me - you live in London, where property costs an average of £7000 per square metre. Eek! And so we need to be making the most of every inch. But what does this actually mean? For me, it’s all about choosing furniture that is both useful and beautiful. Enter my new favourite furnishing item: the ottoman.

I won’t lie: a bespoke upholstered ottoman isn’t the cheapest thing you’ll ever buy. But it DOES make the most of your space. Take my bedroom for example - it’s not big for a master, comprising around 15 square metres, but having done the maths I’ve discovered this room cost me around £100,000 - A HUNDRED GRAND!!! This eye-wateringly expensive space is one in which me and the Pink House Husband need to do a number of things, including: sleep (etc), read, store clothes, get dressed, enjoy the excellent view of the London skyline, and feel calm and cosy and surrounded by pretty things. So how does my new ottoman (from Sarah Beech Ottomans) ensure our bedroom earns its keep?

Provides substantial, easily sortable storage for my unwieldy collection of gym clothing, which simply won’t fit anywhere else. Now I can find a pair of long black yoga leggings and soft bamboo crop top with ease, before settling down on my sofa for the evening (because #athleisure)

Offers a comfy vantage point from which to enjoy the sight of the sun setting over the London Eye. And because it’s made bespoke to fit my bedroom it doesn’t block my path to the bed, or prevent me from opening the under-bed drawers

Provides a seat upon which to sit when getting dressed, on those occasions when you’re rather tired and standing is undesirable (because #hangover and #kids or #both)

Offers an opportunity to use one of my very favourite fabrics (House of Hackney’s Artemis velvet in Azure), without requiring that I buy so much of the stuff that I have to remortgage my house. Also I got to have it lined in pretty pink wool, which adds to the pre-gym motivation.

Only the very best storage for my gym kit/Photo: Susie Lowe

But what does the bedroom’s other occupant, the clutter-averse Pink House Husband, think of the new man in our bedroom? I cornered him while he was making soup in the kitchen (his default position) to find out…

Me: What do you think of the ottoman that resides in our bedroom?

PHH: What?

Me: What do you think about the ottoman? In our bedroom?

PHH: I thought that’s what you said.

Me: So?

PHH: Why are you asking?

Me: I value your opinion.

PHH: I’ve never seen anything fall out of it. It’s doing its job.

Me: What do you think about the way it looks?

PHH: I try not to.

Me: Come on. You like it really, don’t you?

PHH [absent-mindedly, while inspecting the soup]: Yeah.

So there you have it: the new ottoman in the house is to everyone’s taste. Here’s to our happy threesome.

Always have the fabric of your dreams in the bedroom/Photo: Susie Lowe

NB: This is NOT a sponsored post. However, in the interests of full disclosure I’d like to add that Sarah Beech Ottomans made my ottoperson (let’s drop the gender discrimination right here shall we?) at a discounted rate, after I used one of her beautiful designs (featuring Timorous Beasties fabric) for my Style Room at last year’s House & Garden Festival. Sarah is a true craftswoman and creative who loves working with British fabric brands, and I’d highly recommend her for all your ottoman - and ottowoman - requirements. Find her at www.sarahbeechottomans.com

]]>Why you need an ottoman in your lifeQUIZ: Are you winning the interior war?Expert AdviceThe Pink HouseFri, 24 Aug 2018 11:56:24 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/8/24/quiz-are-you-winning-the-interior-war5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5b7fec96352f533673f53d82The first rule of any fight? Know thy enemy. This quiz will help you
understand your interior design opponent and your personal fighting style,
and I’ve included some useful hints and tips to help you overcome your
nemesis…

It’s all very well knowing how you want your home to look, but if you live with someone else you may find they have, shall we say, alternative ideas as to how your pad should be pimped. Or worse: no ideas at all, but a refusal to agree to any of yours. So. Annoying.

The first rule of any fight? Know thy enemy. If you know what kind of opponent you’re up against, and the weapons you have at your disposal, you’re more likely to defeat them. This quiz will help you understand your opponent and your personal fighting style, and I’ve included some useful hints and tips to help you overcome your nemesis. Shall we get started?

NOTE: I refer to husbands and male partners in this feature, but all my points apply equally if you're a bloke/lady with an interiors-obstructive female partner.

Q7 Who wears the trousers in your relationship?

Q8 Which of these is your spirit animal?

A) Tiger

B) Cat

C) Dog

D) Goldfish

RESULTS

Mostly As: Slayer

There is no doubt you are winning the interior war, but are you in danger of losing your relationship? There are only so many times a fish-hater can return from holiday to find his wall papered with fish before deciding to move to a less fish-infested dwelling occupied by a less décor-demanding dweller. Pick your battles carefully and you’ll be winning at life, not just with your wallpaper.

TIP: You can achieve the same décor effect with a more subtle approach. So instead of using a sledgehammer (either literally or metaphorically – you should always get planning permission AND partner approval before knocking down a wall), try something more softly-softly, for example taking him for dinner in a restaurant with that fish wallpaper so he at least has happy memories in connection with it…

Mostly Bs: Warrior queen/king

You’ve got this war-winning thing down to a fine art. You know when to push and when to pretend the whole new sofa thing was your partner’s idea from the start. And you understand that patience is a huge virtue in the interior wars. Either that or you’re one of those annoying people whose fellow home-dweller shares the same taste. Or doesn’t give a shit what you do with the décor. Whichever way, lucky you!

TIP: You know most of the rules in the war-winning book, but to give your sieges extra clout, always be sure to make a big fuss when you do something with the decor that your other half would appreciate: Gone off that cushion? Tell him you see his point about minimalism and you’re donating this cushion you ‘love’ to his favourite charity

Mostly Cs: Foot soldier

You don’t want to compromise on your brilliant design plans, but you’re finding it hard to stand up for yourself and your neon/leopard print/patterned tile obsession. But rather than shying away from the subject, the best thing you can do is address it head on – show your partner your detailed plans, then ask him to draw up something similar so you can see what he likes. Give him a deadline. Chances are he’ll fail to produce the Pinterest-board goods, giving you much more creative leverage.

TIP: Instead of actual compromise, merely appear to compromise. Focus on how the décor idea you have will be the solution to something HE cares about, e.g. perhaps he favours an uncluttered, minimal look: this vintage sideboard with its amazing storage capacity will help achieve exactly that

Mostly Ds: Conscientious objector

You think you don’t even care about the cause, let alone want to engage in battle. You’ve repressed your thoughts, feelings and opinions for so long you can hardly remember that you have any, let alone what they are. It’s not that you’re unable to win the war; you’ve forgotten there’s even anything at stake. But living in a home that makes you happy makes a huge difference to the quality of your life.

TIP: Remind yourself of what you love – in décor, as well as in life – by making a Pinterest board of any image that fills you with joy. This will help you reconnect with your preferences and will be a great starting point for discussion. Who knows – your partner might even agree with you, negating any need to start fighting!

]]>QUIZ: Are you winning the interior war?How brands should work with bloggers - a case studyShoppingOpinionExpert AdviceThe Pink HouseFri, 20 Jul 2018 13:15:49 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/how-brands-should-work-with-bloggers-a-case-study5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5b45eb20aa4a99336fbfac2cI made myself a solemn promise when I started The Pink House that I'd only
work with companies that fitted the following criteria: 1) I loved their
stuff, 2) they loved my stuff…

The Theory

I've worked with quite a lot of brands in the two years I've been a professional blogger/creator/Instagrammer/whatever-the-hell-you'd-call-it. And nearly all of them have been great. I mean - I should bloody well hope so; I made myself a solemn promise when I started The Pink House that I'd only work with companies that fitted the following criteria:

I loved their stuff

They loved my stuff

Pretty simple, right? And most of the time, it has been. Following these rules means that everyone has a better experience: me, the client and - most importantly - you the Pink House Guest.

This is because if I love the products, I'm genuinely enthusiastic when I write about and style them in my home (or on my person). I feel I'm doing my readership a service by showing off something cool I've found, in the same way that I'd show a friend something fabulous I'd found to eat/drink/wear/spend your holiday in/decorate your sofa with.

And if the company loves what I do, that means they trust me to talk about their product in a way that's natural to me, and attractive to you, my readers. The word 'authenticity' is bandied about a lot at the moment; it's become The Word To Use when speaking with 'influencers' (ugh that word; to my ears it sounds so shallow, with shades of coercion; I prefer Instagram's version - 'creators' - which focuses instead on the creativity involved in publishing content in a variety of media). But despite its frequent misuse, 'authenticity', when used correctly, gets to the heart of what it means to make excellent creative content that pleases everyone.

Here's my formula for authenticity when it comes to branded content:

Creator's love of the product + the brand's trust in the creator = AUTHENTIC BRANDED CONTENT

The Case Study

And this has what's been going on over the past 3 months while I've been working with QVCuk.com on a paid partnership. The very fact that this blog post - the first I've ever written about the nuts and bolts of the strange job I do - is sponsored by QVC, says a lot about how much I've loved working with them. Even better, they won't even know they're sponsoring this post until it's published! This is because the delightful QVC team trust me implicitly. My contract says I need to produce a sponsored blog post this month, but it's entirely left up to me what it should be about, and which products I'll promote.

True creative freedom. When I worked in the advertising industry, no creative team was ever afforded that luxury. Sure, they'd be allowed to spend a week getting stoned, playing pool and coming up with various outlandish responses to the brief, but ultimately they'd be reined in by a) me, the account manager, and b) the client. I don't think that ever in the history of advertising a creative team has been given a brief, then allowed to come up with the ad and PUBLISH it, without the client getting involved (though based on how the sexist ad industry was run in the early Noughties, this was definitely a good thing). And yet that's what I'm allowed to do on a regular basis. So. Effing. Cool.

So we've established that QVC trust me to understand what they want and deliver appropriate content, but what about the other side of the equation - my love of their product? Granted, when QVC first approached me about working with them I didn't even know what their product WAS. For me, the acronym Q V C merely conjured up visions of ladies of a certain age buying sparkly rings on daytime telly. And while there is that aspect of the brand, there is SO much more, not least the fact that all of this so much more can be accessed via a cleverly designed website, complete with mini videos showcasing the products.

QVC is, essentially an extremely clever curator of those brands you already love, as well as those brands you didn't really know about but love when you do. And they have some EPIC sales. I was allowed to take my pick from the thousands of products available on their website. This was done by me filling out a questionnaire of what I was into, then turning up to QVC towers in Chiswick to discover an entire massive room merchandised purely with items tailored to my requirements. Hands-down the best shopping experience ever.

And this is also how I found the products I fell in love with and discovered brilliant brands I'd never have considered, all while having an experience that made me fall further in love with QVC as a company (seriously; by the end of the studio tour I was BEGGING them to let me go live on air). It's been a joy working with them these past months, so to mark the end of this project, I thought I'd share the 5 QVC products I loved most from our 3-month partnership...

The Products

1) Bundleberry by Amanda Holden set of 2 nesting tables

Photo: Jane Looker Photography

Photo: Jane Looker Photography

Honestly, I don't know how I'd have survived the summer so far without these nesting tables. We keep ours in the garden and they look as good as new, 3 months later. I love how lightweight they are, meaning that wherever you choose to sit, you can bring your side table with you, and your glass of champagne/iced coffee/water (in descending order of beverage preference) won't spill as you precariously balance it on the grass/a passing child.

2) Rino & Pelle faux suede biker jacket

Photo: Jane Looker Photography

I'd never heard of Rino & Pelle before getting to know QVC. Plus I'm a bit of a jacket snob, tending to prefer real suede or leather to anything faux. But as soon as I tried this jacket on I knew it was a keeper - see pics above. Super classy, and at a price point that means I can buy two colours (check out the pink one - sigh!) for the price of one standard suede jacket. Love the leopard lining too

3) Lisa Snowdon diamond teardrop ring and necklace

Photo: Jane Looker Photography

These ain't no fake diamonds - they're the REAL THING. I've hardly taken my Lisa Snowdon ring and necklace off since they arrived 3 months ago. Beautiful jewellery at an impressively low price designed by one of my TV idols. Yes please.

Let me tell you - if you're in the market for a few faux flowers or some fauxliage, QVCuk.com has got you covered. They sell a brand called Peony (so it's not surprising that their peonies are especially fab) which has a range of incredibly life-like flowers and leaves. I had one discerning Pink House guest who had to touch the eucalyptus (currently out of stock on QVC) and waxflowers before she was convinced they weren't real. I use the foliage to mix with and bulk out real flowers, and the peonies in my turquoise earthenware vase. The smoked glass vase the faux peonies came in is great for real flowers, though, so I don't feel it's been wasted.

5) Northern Nights Tripleknit Waffle Quilt

Photo: Susie Lowe

This stylish grey quilt hasn't left my bed since it arrived. It looks so chic with my M&S waffle bedding and my dark blue and pale pink Chalk Pink Linen Company bedding and works really well over a sheet as a cooler version of a duvet in the summer.

So there you have it - how I love to work with brands, and some of my most recent finds on QVC that have genuinely enhanced my life and which I think will do it for you too. Happy shopping!

This post was sponsored by QVCuk.com, but as always, all thoughts, opinions and lifetime love of Lisa Snowdon are entirely my own. If you're brand who loves what I do and thinks I might love what you do, email me on emily@pinkhouse.co.uk

]]>How brands should work with bloggers - a case studyThe Pink House in the Evening StandardPressThe Pink HouseSun, 24 Jun 2018 15:55:00 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/6/26/the-pink-house-in-the-evening-standard5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5b3261dd2b6a28fb4e3ea1ebIt's an odd feeling, standing on the Tube, watching people stare at your
kitchen and read you being quoted as saying, "It was important to me that
my kitchen didn't look like a kitchen"…

It's an odd feeling, standing on the Tube, watching people stare at your kitchen and read you being quoted as saying, "It was important to me that my kitchen didn't look like a kitchen."

But strange as it was, having my home featured in a classic London publication feels like a real milestone. It's nearly exactly one year since me and my family moved from Edinburgh - and a house I'd just finished renovating - to a new house that was begging for the same de-beiging treatment.

I'm so happy to be back in London, and I'm delighted with how my new home is turning out. Thanks to photographer Gavin Smith and journalist Susan Springate for helping me share my home's story with my fellow Londoners.

]]>The Pink House in the Evening StandardOh what a night! The Pink House X Sofas & Stuff launch partyShoppingOpinionTravelThe Pink HouseThu, 21 Jun 2018 18:40:35 +0000https://www.pinkhouse.co.uk/blog/2018/6/20/thepinkhousexsofasandstuff-launch-party5649ab51e4b0142472e84839:5649b03de4b07010c6fb707c:5b2a15bd03ce6421e6bf69eeYou know when the stars align, your dreams come true and your husband says,
"I can pick the kids up, no problem"? The fabulous launch party for The
Pink House X Sofas & Stuff, which took place in Shoreditch on 13 June, was
one of those times…

I'll be honest here: a pretty large part of the reason I designed a product range was so I could have a party. As I went about making my cushions and armchair ideas into plants-on-pink reality, I daydreamed about the launch event: There would be pink drinks. There would be pink roses. There would be delicious food (some of it pink). And most importantly there would be lots of lovely people who had helped and inspired me since The Pink House opened its doors in 2016, all gathered in a gorgeous venue in a cool part of London Town.

You know when the stars align, your dreams come true and your husband says, "I can pick the kids up, no problem"? The launch party for The Pink House X Sofas & Stuff, which took place on 13 June, was one of those times.

First, the amazing Zoe Anderson offered up her insanely gorgeous interiors boutique W.A.Green in Shoreditch, with its pink walls and leafy wallpaper, as a venue. "We can string fairy lights across the road so people can party in the street!" she said. "We can use the marble counter as a drinks bar. And would you like me to make you a playlist?" Nah, you're alright Zoe. HA!

Zoe outside her fabulous boutique, W.A.Green

So now we had a venue, but how best to show off the merch? With flowers from Hayford & Rhodes of course! These floral geniuses have helped me out with lots of projects already - their incredibly beautiful and creative flower arrangements always take my photoshoots and events (and insignificant little events such as the Chelsea Flower Show and London Fashion Week) next level. Would they design a pretty-with-a-rock-n-roll-twist pink-and-green installation round my cushions and armchairs, with only an hour to set up? THEY WOULD!

Next up: booze. Specifically, pink wine and prosecco from the fabulous I Heart Wines, as hustled to my party by my new pals Hustle & Fox (these guys can arrange ANYTHING). Did it all slip down a treat and did I want a couple of cases for my bash? Yes and yes. Please.

What about the food, though? Ideally, I was after fresh, healthy-yet-tasty canapes, served with style and adhering to a pink and green theme. I sent that wish out into the universe and lo, Katy and Juliet from the Canababes appeared before me, proffering a pink-and-green-themed healthy-yet-tasty canape menu that included such delicious morsels as 'Marinated Courgette with Feta Mint & Chilli' (bloody delicious), 'Wasabi Prawn Sushi roll With Pickled Red Cabbage & Carrot' (bloody delicious), and 'Cucumber Ceviche Blue Corn Tostadas with Pickled Radish' (you guessed it).

As if that wasn't enough edible heaven, Kathy and her Cracking Cakes got in touch with an offer to bake up a pink and ferny cupcake storm, and even recreate The Pink House logo in icing form! Could life/this party get any better?

The answer, incredibly, was YES, in the form of a load of gorgeous pink lipsticks, which Smashbox provided for guests to help themselves to on the night, so they could get their pout on before taking selfies on the sexy armchairs. I got to pick 3 of my favourite Smashbox shades, which included a nude rose (Talk To Me Matte), a true pink (Panorama Pink) and a hot pink (Pretty Social) so there was a perfect pink for everyone. Even the Pink House Husband (he really suits a nude rose).

So how did the party go? Well, the sun shone, the rosé flowed, the music played and around 90 fabulous people showed up and got stuck in...I know, why don't I stop wanging on and let the pictures tell the story...

Thanks so much to Sofas & Stuff for making this all possible, and to everyone who helped make the night such a success. For more info on The Pink House X Sofas & Stuff range and to buy the armchairs and cushions online, click HERE

The Pink House X Sofas & Stuff range, which is handmade in Britain, comprises 2 delicious armchairs and 2 luxury, feather-filled cushions, as seen above, and below - all photos by Susie Lowe and styled in The Pink House by me.

The range officially launched on 20th June 2018; from 20-24 June you can cuddle the cushions and lounge in the armchairs at the House & Garden Festival, stand M12 (Sofas & Stuff). I will be there all day Friday 22 June and would love for you to join me for a pink wine and a chat. The collection is currently available to order online HERE. Following the House & Garden Festival, the range will be on display at selected Sofas & Stuff showrooms.

Can't wait until 20 June? Want to see the merch NOW? Well, I'm delighted to announce that this week (until 15 June) the armchairs and cushions will be on show at one of my absolute favourite interiors boutiques, the sexy af W.A.Green in London's Shoreditch. With that in mind, fabulous W.A.Green owner Zoe Anderson asked me a few questions about the range for her blog, so I thought I'd share the answers I gave her below, so you can learn a bit more about the the collection...

Zoe: Can you tell us the inspiration behind your collaboration?

EM: I wanted to create a capsule collection of armchairs and cushions that I found totally delicious, and that would fit with The Pink House’s aesthetic. Pink velvet - specifically, Designers Guild Varese velvet in Blossom - was my starting point, and then it was a case of finding the perfect leafy fabric. Plants make people happy. Whether you live in a city or in the country, bringing a bit of the outside inside is good for the soul. I was especially keen to use a print that incorporated images of the kinds of plants we find in our parks and gardens in the UK, instead of something more tropical.

Then there’s the fact that pink and green is my all-time-favourite colour combination – it was even the colour scheme at my wedding to the Pink House Husband (my choice, not his).

Sofas & Stuff was the obvious choice for me to collaborate with; they’ve been my go-to sofa company for years; not only is the quality and comfiness unbeatable, but the fact they allow you complete creative freedom when it comes to fabric selection is amazing

Zoe: What qualities do you think are important for a sofa to have?

EM: You should feel irresistibly attracted towards it as soon as you enter a room, then as soon as you sit on it, you should never want to get up.

Zoe: You chose Emilie Georgia’s bold fern print for the design. What attracted you to her work?

EM: I mentored fresh-out-of-art-school Emilie last year after falling in love with her William Morris-inspired take on pattern. I love how she takes the lush British countryside and re-conjures it in your home. It’s an honour to showcase her stunning design; it looks so good with pink, too!

Zoe: Where and how will you be styling your chairs?

EM: The fern-print chair is perfectly at home in my kitchen (see pics, further up), surrounded by leafy wallpaper and plants – plus you can sit on it and see clumps of real ferns by the pond in my garden. The pink piping and cushion picks up on the pink in my glazed breakfast bar tiles.

As for the pink chair, I keep trying it out in different rooms in my house. It’s gorgeous in my home office; the pink really pops against the rich grey walls, and I love sitting there with my laptop. But then it’s also rather fabulous in my dark blue sitting room, as you can see in the photos. I’ve popped a fern cushion on my grey wool Sofas & Stuff corner sofa too, where it joins the other – more tropical – botanical-print fabrics. It’s like a sofa greenhouse!

Zoe: Finally, are you a feet up or no feet allowed on the sofa kinda lady?